Freeze free drain for refrigeration systems



Sept. 21, 1965 J. E. EID

FREEZE EEEE DRAIN FOR REERIGERATION sYsTEMs Filed Sept. 4. 1964 Fifc. .I

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ATTORNEYS United States Patent O 3,206,942 FREEZE FREE DRAIN FOR REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS `lohn E. Eid, Eids Refrigeration Company, Moorhead, Minn. Filed Sept. 4, 1964, Ser. No. 394,491 1 Claim. (Cl. 62-277) My invention pertains to heat exchange systems, and more particularly to refrigeration systems.

Still more specically, my invention relates to improvements in walk-in food freezers and the like of the type which include a compressor-condenser unit exteriorly of the walled enclosure dening said walk-in freezer and an evaporator unit within said enclosure. A liquid supply line of necessity leads from the compressor-condenser unit to the evaporator unit and a return or suction line leads from the evaporator unit to the compressor-condenser unit. Finally, a uid drain line must lead from the evaporator unit within said enclosure to a point exteriorly thereof in order to drain off the condensation resulting from the operation of the evaporator unit.

In such walk-in freezers, it frequently becomes necessary, for one reason or another, to direct the drain line laterally through the wall thereof, as a result of which a horizontally disposed portion below the level of the evaporator unit comes into being. These horizontally disposed drain line portions too frequently freeze up and thereby render inoperative the entire refrigeration system. To avoid this well-known but unsatisfactory condition, these horizontally disposed drain portions have heretofore been heated by means of wrapping same with electrical resistance tape. However, this means has not proven satisfactory because such tapes too frequently short and burn out, resulting in expensive shut-down, repair, and/or replacement of the damaged parts.

My invention provides a simple, inexpensive and highly etiicient means of imparting continuous heat to the horizontally disposed drain line portions whereby to completely overcome and avoid freezing thereof and the too numerous and expensive breakdowns incidental thereto.

The above and still further objects of my invention will become apparent from the following detailed speciiication, appended claims, and attached drawings.

Referring to the drawings wherein like characters indicate like parts throughout the several views:

FIG. l is a diagrammatic view partially in section and partially in elevation of a conventional walk-in freeze;

FIG. 2 is a greatly enlarged view in axial section of a portion of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view in vertical Section as seen from ythe line 3 3 of FIG. 2.

Referring with greater particularity to the drawings, the numeral indicates the insulated generally rectangular enclosure wall of a conventional walk-in freezer. Located exteriorly of the walled enclosure 10 is a conventional compressor-condenser unit 11 which, through the medium of a liquid supply line 12, is connected to an evaporator unit 13 within the walled enclosure 10, and also of conventional design. A suction line 14 leads from the evaporator unit 13 to the compressor-condenser unit 11, whereby to complete the circuit of the refrigerating fluid which in well-known manner is converted to a liquid by the compressor-condenser unit and is changed back to a gaseous condition by the evaporator unit 13.

3,206,942 Patented Sept. 21, 1965 ICC Leading from the evaporator unit 13 to a point exteriorly of the wall 10 is a drain line 15, the generally vertically disposed portion of which is identified at 16, the horizontally disposed portion, below the level of the evaporator 13, by 17.

While it is true that the condensing unit, in converting the hot gases within the suction-return line 14 to a liquid form, dissipates a great deal of the heat thereof, nevertheless the heating fluid within the supply line 12 (and consequently the supply line 12 itself) retains suflcient of said heat to maintain the temperature of each well above the freezing point of water, 32 F. Consequently, in accordance with my invention, the said supply line 12, primarily within the walled enclosure 10, is formed to define an abrupt U-shaped branch identified in its entirety at 18, and comprising legs 19 and 20, respectively. As shown, the leg 19 at the angular juncture of vertical and horizontal portions 16, 17 of the drain 15, enters said horizontal portion 17 as indicated at 21, and extends axially through said horizontal portion 17 to a point 22 outwardly of the wall enclosure 10. lt will be noted that at the points of entry and exit 21, 22, respectively, a suitable means such as silver solder is employed to secure and seal leg 19 with respect to drain 15.

As shown particularly in FIGS. 2 and 3, the leg 20 of the U-shaped branch 18 extends in a reverse direction through said wall 10 in abutting relationship to the exterior of the horizontally disposed portions 17 of the drain line 15, preferably in engagement with the bottom 23 thereof. Preferably silver solder and the like is again utilized to maintain abutting engagement between the leg 20 and portion 17.

The arrangement immediately above described wherein the leg 19 extends generally axially through the horizontally disposed portion 17 of the drain 15, and the return leg 20 is in abutting relationship with the lowermost portion 23 of said horizontal portion 17 exteriorly thereof, positively assures a continuous flow therethrough of condensed water vapors emanating from the evaporator unit.

My invention has been thoroughly tested and found to be completely satisfactory for the accomplishment of the above objects; and while I have disclosed a preferred embodiment thereof, same may well be capable of modification without departure from the scope and spirit of the appended claim.

What is `claimed is:

In a walk-in freezer, including (a) a wall enclosure,

(b) a compressor-condenser unit exteriorly of said enclosure,

(c) an evaporator unit within said enclosure,

(d) a liquid supply line leading from said compressorcondenser unit to said evaporator unit,

(e) a suction line leading from said evaporator unit to said compressor-condenser unit, and

(f) a fluid drain line leading from said evaporator unit and including a generally horizontally disposed portion below the level of said evaporator and passing through the wall of said enclosure,

(g) the internal diameter of said drain line being substantially greater than the external diameter of said liquid supply line, and

(h) said uid supply line within said enclosure and intermediate said compressor-condenser unit and said evaporator unit entering said drain line and 3 4 extending generally axially therethrough to a point References Cited by the Examiner eXteIiOl Of Said Wall,

(i) said fluid supply line being formed to dene a U STATES PATE S generally U-shaped portion, one leg of which extends 2554848 5/51 Wagen 62-"81 through said horizontally disposed portion of said 5 2688850 9/54 White n 62-278 drain line, the other of said legs extending in a reverse FOREIGN PATENTS direction through said wall in abutting relationship 670,814 9 /63 Canadato the exterior of said horizontally disposed drain line portion thereof, adjacent the bottom thereof. WILLIAM J. WYE, Primary Examiner. 

